Duplicating machine and method



Dec. 24, 1935'. JENSEN DUPLICATING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Oct. 29, 1%1 -4 Sheets -$heet 1 lib 1 lllll IILLIIIIIIIII u JIM/e21 for; louzfi Jnsen,

zgKM-Sili Dec. 24, 1935. L. JENSEN 2,025,414

DUPLICATING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Oct. 29, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet z Zoas Jnseva,

Dec. 24, 1935. L, JENSEN DUPLICATING mourns AND METHOD Filed Oct. 29, 1931 4'Sheets-Sheet 3 15221212 for. Zouis Jensen,

Dec. 24, 1935. JENSEN 2,025,414

DUPLICATING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Oct. 29, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .ffibn for: [011115 kfeizje 72, 5

Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES DUPLICATING MACHINE AND LETHOD Louis Jensen, Chicago, Ill., assignor to United Autographic Register 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 29, 1931, Serial No. 571,747

7 Claims.

This invention relates particularly to typewriters adapted to the purpose of filling in forms on continuous-form stationery, and more particularly to an attachment for holding continuousform stationery which has been advanced beyond the platen of the machine. 7

The primary object is to provide. an improved method and means for shifting transfer sheets interleaved with continuous-form stationery.

In accordance with the present invention, after a set of forms has been filled in, the stationery is advanced two form lengths beyond the platen and its ends held by a clamping device that will permit the transfer sheets to be retracted from the advanced to the succeeding set of forms. The succeeding loaded set of forms is then retracted to writing position, and the completed forms may be detached, if desired.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of improved means for supporting a folded packet of continuous-form stationery so that the stationery will be carried back and forth as the typewriter carriage makes its lateral movements.

The present application constitutes a con-' tinuation in part of my application 547,126 filed June 26, 1931.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in

' which- Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a machine embodying the invention; Fig. 1A, a broken detail view showing how the carbon sheets may be attached together; Fig. 2, a side elevational view of the machine; Fig. 3, a perspective view of a preferred form of stationery holding device removed from the machine;,Fig. 4, a broken detail sectional view, taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a broken sectional view of the standard and stationery gripping device, taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6, a detail sectional view, showing the relation between the typewriter platen and standard; Fig. '7, a perspective view of a modified form of standard and gripping device; Fig. 8, a broken detail sectional view, taken as indicated'at line 8 of Fig, 7 Fig. 9, a perspective view of a further modification of the standard, showing how it may be bent back to provide a greater slope; Fig. 10, a side elevational view of a modified form of the invention applied to a typewriting machine, this viewshowing also the stationery-carrying tray employed; Fig. 11, a broken perspective view illustrating the tray and its attaching means; Fig. 12, a broken horizontal sectional view, taken as indicated at line l2 of Fig. 11; Fig. 13, a perspective view showing a modified form of the device which supports the advance end of the stationery while the carbonpack is being retracted to load a fresh set of forms; Fig. 14, a broken sectional view taken as indicated at line Id of Fig. 13; Fig. 15, a frag- 5 mentary vertical section taken as indicated at line l5 of Fig. 13; Fig. 16, an enlarged broken front View of the standard which serves to support the stationery; Fig. 17, a broken sectional view taken as indicated at line H of Fig. 16; Fig. 18, a sectional view taken as indicated at line N3 of Fig. 13; Fig. 19, an enlarged broken sectional view taken as indicated at line IQ of Fig. 13; Fig. 20, a broken perspective view illustrating a carbon-pack comprising a zig-zag folded sheet having carbonized areas presented in a commondirection in the folded condition of the sheet; Fig. 21, a sectional view of a carbon strip which may be employed as one of a set of carbons; and Fig. 22, a broken sectional view'illustrating the use 20 of individual carbon sheets interleaved between the stationery-strips.

In the embodiment illustrated, A designates the main frame of a typewriting machine; B, a shiftable platen carriage, having a platen B; and C, a stationery supporting device having .base members C a standard C a gripping device C and a guide device C The typewriter A and shiftable carriage B may be of the conventional type provided with a rotatable platen B, although the invention is not limited to use in this type of a machine; A typewriting machine having a fiat platen, or an autographic register, might employ the invention.

The attachment C has a pair of channel-like base members C, which are adapted to fit onto the carriage B of the typewriter. The members are provided with slots [0 adapted to receive the heads of machine screws In and hold the device onto the machine. A pair of standards H are mounted on the base members and are rigidly connected to a cross bar l2 by means of machine screws l2.

The standard C is supported by the cross-bar l2, and a pair of studs l3, which are riveted with a smooth face to the standard, hold it in spaced relation. An upwardly extending brace I4 is attached to the standard by a stud l5 and nut Ili and to the cross-bar by the studs l3 and nuts I3 The lower end of the standard C extends down close to the platen as shown in Fig. 6, and serves as a guide for strips led from the platen." If desired, the tip l6 may be bent inward as shown in Figs. 7 and 9.

. The gripping device C may be free to travel up 56 against the traction member.

and down the standard, if desired. Such adevice is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5, and may comprise: a traction member l6 having a handle portion l6, and retaining a'rms 16 slidably engaging the standard 0; a clamping arm l1 having a finger piece I1, hinged to the member I 6 by pivot 18; and a coil spring I9 urging the clamping arm When such a device is used, the upper end of the standard is provided with a tape-reel 20 having a coil spring 20 which tends to wind up a tape 20 and raise the traveling gripping device to which it is attached by means of a bail 20. With this type of device, an adjustable stop 2| is provided to limit the the lower travel of the clamp. The stop is fitted to the standard so as to be adjustably held in place by friction.

Another, somewhat simpler, form of clamping member is shown in Figs. '1, 8 and 9. This modification is adjustable longitudinally but is not intended to slide with the stationery, which is gripped between the spring arm 22 and the standard. Grip-arms 22 hold the device in position.

A guide 0* is mounted in rear of the device to direct stationery 25 to the platen. The ends 21 of the base members C are turned upwards and bent around a guide rod 28 to form a clamp which may be tightened by screws 21 The rod is provided with guide fingers 29, which are adjustably heldby thumb screws 29. The guide rod is further provided with a roller 30, which is freely journaled on the rod.

Transfer sheets 3| may be in the form of separatesheets or in a pack. The sheets are of sufficient' width to extend beyond the edges of the record strips, so that they may be gripped at their margins without disturbing the record strips.

Preferably, the lower marginal portions of the transfer sheets are cut away as indicated at 31 to facilitate passage under the platen from the front. If desired, the transfer sheets may be attached together at one or both marginal edges by stitching 31 (as shown in Fig. 1A) or in any other suitable manner. Such fastening, however, is not essential to the successful operation of the invention.

In using the clamping device shown in Figs. 1-3, after the first set of carbon loaded forms have been typed the clamping member may be drawn downward and snapped over ends of the paper strips so as to carry the strips upwardly as they are fed out by the platen and associated presser means; or, the strips may be fed up to the advanced position before clamping. In either case, the forms will be placed in the position shown in Fig. 1, while the margins of the carbon sheets are graspedand drawn down between the sheets of the succeeding set of forms. The completed forms may then be detached, or, preferably, the loaded set of forms are drawn back into writing position, drawing the clamping device down with the stationery until it strikes the stop 2|, which is adjusted to hold the device and permit the strips to pull out automatically, and at that time the completed forms may be detached by tearing along a line of weakening or on a tear-off bar provided on the machine. With the modified form shown in Figs. 7-9, two formlengths of stationery are drawn up, or fed up by the platen roll, as above, and the ends of the strips are inserted under the arm 22 which holds the forms while the carbon is retracted. When the loaded strips are drawn or fed back into writing position, the ends will pull out of the clamping device. It will be understood that with either type of clamp the strips may be drawn by hand or fed by the machine, and the advanced set of forms may be detached any time after the transfer sheets have been retracted.

Describing the construction shown in Figs. 10-18, D designates an ordinary typewriting machine equipped with a shiftable carriage D in which is mounted a platen-roll D; E designates a device for supporting and holding stationery while a set of carbons is shifted from the typed set of forms to a succeeding set of forms; and F designates a stationery-holding tray which has its upper end detachably connected mounted on the carriage of the machine and has its lower portion equipped with a rollerF' which travels on a transversely extending track F supported by bars F which are secured to the underside of the frame of the machine D. a

The device E is shown as comprising a pair of brackets 32 which are firmly mounted on the carriage D, as by means of screws 32 (Fig. 14) said brackets being equipped with upwardly extending ears 32'; a transversely extending bar 33 having its ends equipped with ears 33, which are pivotally secured to the ears 32", by means of bolts 34 and nuts 34; a thumb-plate 35, which, as shown in Fig. 18, is adjustably mounted on the cross-bar 33, the plate 35 serving as a bearing against which the stationery strips may be placed to enable the typed set of forms to be torn off; a standard 36 in the form of a centrally disposed bar mounted on the transverse bar 33; a clip 31 adjustably mounted on the standard 36, said clip being adapted to support the advance end of the stationery while the set of carbons is being retracted to load a fresh set of forms; and a yielding rod 38 having its upper end attached to the upper end of the standard 36, the rod 38 serving to hold thestationery against the standard 36 and prevent the stationery from dropping forwardly.

The cross-bar 33 is capable of being turned about its pivots to enable the standard 36 to be set at a desired upward and rearward inclination. The nut 3t is adapted to tighten the connection sufiiciently to hold the standardin any desired position of adjustment.

The plate 35 (Figs. 13 and 18) is mounted on an adjustable spacing lug 35 secured to the crossbar 33. The lug 35 is slidably mounted in a slot 35 with which the member 33 is provided. Also, it is equipped with a threaded stem 35 fitted with a nut 35 by means of which the plate may be clamped to the bar 33.

The standard 36 is in the form of a bar which is equipped near its lower end with a branch 36 removably secured in a socket 36 with which the cross-bar 33 is equipped. A set screw 36 serves to secure the standard to the member 33. The lower end of the standard projects some distance below the cross-bar 33.

A clip, or stationery-holding member, 31 comprises a body-portion 31 slidably mounted on the bar 36 and capable of being adjustably secured thereon by a set screw 31 and a springpressed angular elbow-like member 31 interposed between the standard 36 and the lower portion of the member 31. One arm of. the member 31 works freely in a slot 31 and the other arm extends through a slot 31 with which the member 31 is provided. A thumb-piece 31 may be pressed downwardly to effect release of the member 31, if desired. It will be understood that the stationery is automatically gripped between the 75 standard 36 and the elbow of the member 3'! when fed upwardly by the platen. That is, the

natural stiffness of the stationery is sufficient to press open the jaw but the elbow-member is so designed that it exerts a strong snubbing action against withdrawal of the stationery.

The rod, or wire, 38 is disposed adjacent one edge'of the standard 36 and spaced a short distance in front of the standard. The wire is secured to the upper end of the standard by means of a connection 38. At its lower end, the wire 38 is provided with a rearward offset 38*, which has its extremity curved as indicated at 38. The offset portion 38 is adapted to rest in a U-shaped clip 38 which is riveted to the standard 36.

It will be understood that when the stationery is in position in front of the standard 36, the

, offset portion 33 of the rod 38 rests lightly on the stationery.

The stationery-strips 25 are drawn from a zigzag folded packet 25 carried by the tray, or stationery-container, F. This container may be of any suitable form.- It is shown as comprising a sheet-metal member bent to form a front wall 39 and bottom. wall 39, and a relatively low, or narrow, rear wall 39*. The upper end of the wall 39 is provided with slots which are engaged by hooks 40, secured to a cross-member 4|, which forms, in effect, a part of the carriage D' of the machine. The front and rear walls of the container are joined at their ends by connecting members 42.

The rollers F are mounted on arms 43 secured to the front wall 39.

The upper-portion of the wall 39 is equipped with rearwardly projecting guide-arms 44 which may be adjusted to conform to the width of the stationery which is drawn upwardly from the container between the planes of said arms. The adjustable connection is indicated at 45 in Fig. 12. Thus, both of the arms 44 may be adjusted laterally to properly center the stationery and guide it with relation to the platen E The track F is mounted on the rear ends of the arms F The arms F are spaced to correspond approximately with the width of the frame of the machine. They extend below the frame of the machine and are secured thereto by means of screws 46 with which the removable legs 46 of the frame are equipped. The bars F are provided with perforations 46 through which the screws extend.

Any suitable carbon-pack may be used in connection with the device for supporting the advance ends of the continuous-form stationery. In the illustration given in Fig. 20, the carbon-pack isv designated 41. In this form, it comprises a carbon sheet which originally has alternately arranged carbonized zones on opposite sides of the sheet. When folded into zig-zag form, the carbon surfaces are all presented in the same direction. The folded edges of the zig-zag carbon are designated 41 The free edges are preferably reinforced lightly, as indicated at 41 This reinforcing may be effected, for example, by dipping the edges into a solution of a suitable varnish, resin or the like. A solution of a cellulose acetate may serve the purpose. If desired, any other light form of binding material may be used. The edges of the carbon-pack should remain flexible, however, to

permit the carbon-pack to pass freely about the platen-roll.

In the illustration given in Fig. 21, 48 designates an individual carbon sheet having reinforcements 48 at its lateral edges.

In the illustration given in Fig. 22, individual carbon sheets 49 are shown interleaved with stationery-strips 25, which are reinforced at their lateral edges as indicated at 49 This reinforcement may be effected byapplying 5 a solution of a suitable compound adapted to make the edge of the carbon-sheet somewhat thicker and tougher than it is if unreinforced; The lateral margins of the carbon-sheets project past the lateral edges of the continuous-form 10 stationery in the'manner illustrated in Fig. 1. The manner of manipulating the carbons in loading a fresh set of forms has already been described.

The foregoing detailed description has been 15 given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of .the prior art.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1 In a duplicating method involving use of continuous-form stationery, the steps which comprise: employing a duplicating slip in a loaded set 25 of forms; advancing the stationery to substantially clear a succeeding set of forms from the typing mechanism and holding the advance ends of the stationery strips; retracting the transfer slip to load the succeeding set of forms; and re- 30 turning the freshly loaded set of forms to typing position.

2. In combination with a typewriter provided with a suitable carriage carrying a platen; a stationery-holding device mounted on said carriage 35 comprising a standard having gripping-means for holding the advance end of continuous-form stationery to permit carbons to be shifted from a typed s t of forms to a succeeding set of forms, said means being adapted to automatically admit 40 advancing stationery into gripping position and resist withdrawal of the same by a snubbing action.

3. Mechanism as specified in claim 2, in which the standard is equipped at its .upper end with 45 a downwardly extending guide-arm, adapted to guide stationery into engagement with said gripping-means.

4. A device as specified in claim 2, in which the gripping-means with which said standard is 50 equipped comprises a clip adjustably mounted on the standard and a spring-pressed elbow-like member slidably mounted in said clip and coacting with the standard to hold the advance end of the stationery. 55

5. In combination: a typewriter having a shiftable carriage and a platen mounted therein; and a stationery holding device comprising an upwardly extending standard mounted on said carriage, said standard having attached to its upper 60 portion a rod-like stationery guide adapted to prevent forward tilting of the stationery and said standard being provided near its lower end with a clip adapted to grip said guide and hold it in inoperative position. 6

6. In a duplicating method involving the use of continuous length sheets of record material divisible along weakened tear lines into form lengths and form length sheets of transfer material interleaved between said sheets of record 70 material including the steps of advancing the sheets of record material and transfer material in unison at least two form lengths beyond writing position, holding the sheets of record material while retracting the transfer sheets one form 75 length into interleaved relation with the succeeding form and retracting the sheets of record and transfer material in unison into writing position.

7. The combination with a writing machine having feeding means for advancing superimposed record strips and interleaved retractible sheets of transfer material in unison past a writing position, and a guide member for the inscribed 10 portion of the strips and interleaved transfer sheets extending beyond the writing position, a gripper carried by the guide member beneath which the end of the inscribed portion of the strips is freely insertable by advancement of said strips, and spring means automatically rendering the gripper effective to clamp the record strips against retrograde motion upon retractive movement of the interleaved transfer sheets.

LOUIS JENSEN. 

